WASHINGTON, December 18, 2014 - The World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors today approved a total of US$95 million to support Madagascar’s efforts to improve public service delivery and boost... Show More + key areas for job creation. “The past political crisis had devastating effects on Madagascar. Poverty has risen and is now among the highest in the world,” said Mark Lundell, World Bank Country Director for Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritius, Comoros, and Seychelles. “Today’s financing reinforces the Bank Group’s support in tackling the tremendous challenges that Madagascar is facing.”The first operation, the Reengagement Development Policy Operation (RDPO) financed by a US$45 million International Development Association (IDA)* credit accompanies the country’s efforts to consolidate the return to constitutional order and will provide budget support to the government to improve the efficiency and transparency of public service delivery.Estimates show that in 2010, about 82 percent of Show Less -

Countries can respond to natural disasters better and assist victims faster if robust social protection systems are in place— World Bank Group MANILA, November 4, 2014 – The Government... Show More + of the Philippines and the World Bank Group hosted the first regional conference to capture lessons on how countries could better respond to natural disasters through robust social protection systems. The event – which brought together experts and policy makers from 17 countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia and the Pacific regions—concluded that linking social protection and disaster and climate risk management systems is prudent public policy that could lessen the impact of and build resilience to these risks.“Countries in Asia and the Pacific region are amongst the most prone to disaster and climate risks - and these natural calamities have devastating impact on lives and livelihoods, especially for the poorest and the most vulnerable. However, worldwide experience shows th Show Less -

WASHINGTON, August 1, 2014 – The World Bank’s Board of Directors today approved a US$50 million grant to support the government of Yemen’s efforts to improve access to basic services for the country’s... Show More + underserved communities.The International Development Association (IDA) grant, the Bank’s fund for the world’s poorest countries, will supplement an ongoing program that has increased school enrollment, especially for girls, improved access to water, boosted agricultural productivity and incomes, provided better public health services and promoted mobility through rural road improvements.The additional funds are destined for the Community and Local Development Program (CLDP), a core component of the Social Fund for Development Phase IV Project (SFD IV) covering the years 2011 to 2016. While expanding access to basic services, the program also empowers local communities by putting them in charge of identifying infrastructure projects that address their specific needs. A pipeline of 563 CLD Show Less -

Managing Director pays first visit to Central American nation MANAGUA, July 11, 2014 — World Bank Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director Sri Mulyani Indrawati ended a two day visit to Nicaragua... Show More + this Friday. She called for a greater effort to accelerate extreme poverty elimination by providing opportunities to all citizens. Indrawati met with President Daniel Ortega on July 10 and praised the country’s achievements in resuming economic growth following the global financial crisis, while achieving significant progress on the poverty front. Nicaragua’s has achieved a real Gross Domestic Product growth of 5 percent in 2012 and 4.6 percent in 2013, returning to pre-crisis growth levels. Indrawati highlighted how the Bank could support social services delivery and the country’s competitiveness and productivity agenda.“After decades of macroeconomic instability, war and natural disasters, Nicaragua has entered a phase where macroeconomic stability, peace and better risk Show Less -

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2014 - The World Bank’s Board of Directors today approved a EUR150 million (US$206.8 million) Second Economic Recovery Development Policy Loan (ERDPL2) to the Republic of Croatia.... Show More + The loan aims to support the Government of Croatia’s efforts in accelerating sustainable economic recovery through the consolidation of public finances and strengthening the investment climate.Specifically, the loan supports reforms in two broad areas. The first area focuses on fiscal consolidation efforts through expenditure-based adjustments in public administration, health, pensions, and social welfare areas. These efforts will lead to improvements in the management of public spending and will strengthen the medium-term sustainability of public finances, with the goal of achieving macroeconomic stability.The second area supported by the loan is improving the business environment and reducing state involvement in the corporate sector. The Croatian authorities have already taken measure Show Less -

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2014 - The World Bank has approved a Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for Nigeria which would increase its development assistance to the country for job creation, social service... Show More + delivery and governance to about US$2 billion per year through the International Development Association (IDA) and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) financing.The new CPS which covers the period of FY2014-2017 introduces a change in the country’s borrowing status. Nigeria was declared credit worthy for IBRD financing last year and is officially entering blend status from July 1, 2014.This CPS has been prepared in the context of the World Bank’s renewed commitment to the twin goals of reducing extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity in Nigeria and globally. It is fully aligned with Nigeria’s development agenda, Vision 20: 2020, and its medium-term strategy for realizing that vision; the Transformation Agenda.In support of these objectives, the CPS Show Less -

Moving towards a more comprehensive social welfare systemWASHINGTON, March 24, 2014 – The World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors today approved a US$21.2 million credit for the Social Protection... Show More + Administration II Project (SPAP) in Armenia. The project will support the Government of Armenia in improving social protection service delivery and strengthening analytical, monitoring and evaluation functions of the agencies delivering social protection benefits and services.Armenia has consistently reformed its social service delivery, emphasizing efficiency and targeting among other priorities. These efforts need further enhancement to cope with the protracted and high unemployment, poverty and vulnerability which disproportionately affect women. In response to the challenges, Armenia has chosen a model of functional integration of four existing agencies responsible for pensions, social assistance, employment and disability certification. Under the first SPAP, the above servic Show Less -

WASHINGTON, March 13, 2014 – The World Bank Group has announced a new strategy for Djibouti that aims to support the government in reducing extreme poverty and building the foundations for shared prosperity... Show More + through improved service delivery and better governance.The pillars of the new Country Partnership Strategy 2014-1017 for Djibouti, discussed today by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors, are to reduce vulnerability and improve the business environment. The strategy was designed jointly by the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).“This new strategy brings together the combined resources of the World Bank Group and demonstrates a deepening engagement with Djibouti’s national authorities, as well as with civil society, the private sector, and development partners,” said Inger Andersen, World Bank Regional Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa. “It also re Show Less -

WASHINGTON, March 13, 2014 – The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved the third in a series of programs for Rwanda that will help accelerate the country’s impressive poverty reduction... Show More + of recent years. The US$70 million IDA allocation will be used to expand and strengthen Rwanda’s social protection system, which protects the most vulnerable people against the worst effects of poverty.Rwanda has reduced extreme poverty dramatically in recent years, from 40 percent in 2001 to 24 percent in 2011. This remarkable success has been achieved with support from the World Bank and other partners, and social protection has been established as a central policy tool for reaching the poor and the vulnerable. Rwanda’s flagship social safety net—the Vision 2020 Umurenge program (VUP) consisting primarily of cash transfers and public works employment—now covers close to a million people.“Everybody should benefit equally from Rwanda’s economic growth,” said James Muson Show Less -

WASHINGTON, January 22, 2014 – The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved a credit of US$60 million to help strengthen Vietnam’s social assistance system by developing innovations in... Show More + management and service delivery nationwide, and piloting these innovations in four provinces in north, central and south Vietnam.Although Vietnam has achieved remarkable poverty reduction outcomes over the past two decades, poverty remains high for ethnic minorities and certain other groups. Vietnam’s existing social assistance system includes multiple programs, but there are important policy and implementation gaps that risk hampering long-term poverty and vulnerability reduction. The fragmentation of programs and delivery systems creates considerable inefficiency for both implementers and beneficiaries.“In Vietnam, the critical issue lies in not the lack of social protection programs and policies, but the fact that there are too many fragmented and overlapping ones,” says Vice Minister Show Less -

WASHINGTON, November 19, 2013 –The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved two new development policy loans (DPLs) to support ongoing Indonesian government reform efforts to alleviate... Show More + poverty, increase shared prosperity, strengthen public financial management, and improve connectivity. The INSTANSI (Institutional, Tax Administration, Social and Investment) and Connectivity DPLs are the second in a series that was initiated in 2012.“Indonesia’s prudent management of its public finances contributes to the country’s ability to weather global economic pressures,” says World Bank Country Director for Indonesia, Rodrigo Chaves. “The World Bank continues to support the government’s reform agenda, aimed at improving national connectivity and enhancing the quality of government spending – important policy steps that will help towards increasing shared prosperity for all Indonesians.” The second INSTANSI DPL, disbursing $400 million, recognizes measures to enhance social safety Show Less -

Three-Year Initiative to Integrate Energy Efficiency into City PlanningBARCELONA, Spain, November 19, 2013 – The World Bank has announced a new initiative to help cities in developing countries integrate... Show More + energy efficiency into their strategic planning and operations, in order to improve public services, lessen pressure on municipal budgets, and reduce pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The City Energy Efficiency Transformation Initiative (CEETI) will work with city governments to facilitate promising energy efficiency investments, match cities with sources of financing, and build the capacity of officials to get projects off the ground. The initial three-year phase of the initiative, led by the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), will work with up to 50 cities to achieve substantial cost and energy savings through efficiency projects. “Energy efficiency will be critical to the competitiveness of cities as well as to their economic profile, Show Less -

High level visit aimed at laying the foundations for support beyond the transition period SANA’A, November 12, 2013 — The World Bank Regional Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, Inger... Show More + Andersen, concluded a two-day visit to Yemen focused on highlighting the urgent need for ongoing international support in the post National Dialogue period. The visit provided a critical opportunity to discuss the recent developments in the National Dialogue, as it draws to an end, and to prepare for next challenge of putting its recommendations into action. “As we eagerly await the conclusion of this truly historic and inclusive National Dialogue, we will continue to work with the government on the social and economic reforms that will make a real difference in the lives of ordinary Yemenis.” said Andersen. “In collaboration with our partners, the World Bank Group remains committed to supporting Yemen in creating the right environment for the successful implementation of the outcom Show Less -

Tackling poverty in the Palestinian Territories with support for Non-Governmental OrganizationsWASHINGTON, July 31, 2013 – The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved today additional financing... Show More + of US$5 million to an ongoing project to support Palestinian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in delivering social services. The World Bank Group development program for the Palestinian Territories has long recognized the importance of supporting NGOs to help promote social inclusion and citizen participation. “The project will provide social services to poor and marginalized communities with a particular focus on women and youth and will strengthen good governance for NGOs,” said Sima Kanaan, Lead Social Development Specialist. “The additional financing will allocate 66 percent of the total funding to cover under-served areas where the Palestinian Authority has difficulties operating." The project will utilize up-to-date data and poverty estimates at the local lev Show Less -

NAIROBI, July 12, 2013 – While Kenya has made tremendous progress recently by reducing child mortality and getting more children into school, new data published today suggest that raising the quality of... Show More + public education and health services is essential to build on these gains. Otherwise, far too many children will attend school without learning enough and too many patients leave clinics without the right treatment.Service Delivery Indicators (SDI)—based on independent surveys of 5,000 teachers and health providers in 600 primary schools and clinics—show that Kenya is doing relatively well on making textbooks, medical equipment, and basic infrastructure available in facilities. But the country is still far from achieving optimal performance by teachers and health providers, the SDI data show. SDI is an Africa-wide initiative led by the World Bank, the African Economic Research Consortium, and the African Development Bank.“While it is true that education and health services are not perfe Show Less -

MANILA, July 8, 2013 – Axel van Trotsenburg, World Bank Vice President for East Asia and Pacific (EAP), visits the Philippines this week to confer with the country’s leaders on how the Bank could best... Show More + align its emerging assistance strategy with the country’s inclusive growth agenda in the next three years.This is Mr. van Trotsenburg’s first visit to the Philippines, following his trips to other countries in the EAP region since he assumed his post on February 1, 2013. During his stay, Mr. van Trotsenburg will meet with President Benigno S. Aquino III and his economic team, other top government officials and representatives from civil society, business groups, media, and other development partners.“This is a timely visit as it will give our Vice President the opportunity to exchange views with President Aquino and his economic team, as well as other sectors of society, on how the country and the Bank could work together to build on the gains of high economic growth to end extreme povert Show Less -

Basic services and better incomes for poor and vulnerable householdsWASHINGTON, May 17, 2013 – A US$30 million project will increase access to basic services for poor and vulnerable people in Lebanon and... Show More + support opportunities to help them generate better incomes. The Social Protection and Promotion Project approved by the World Bank Board of Directors today will expand the coverage of Lebanon’s National Poverty Targeting Program from 93,900 to 160,700 people over the next five years. The project is designed to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Social Affairs at central and local levels so that its 200 social development centers can provide improved and relevant services. This involves the establishment of a national Community Social Development program that is transparent, efficient and accountable to its users. The program will provide grant finance to small community-based projects which can deliver social services and help people boost their income with enhanced Show Less -

The World Bank-supported project will boost the Kyrgyz Government’s efforts to improve health care and better target social assistanceWASHINGTON, May 3, 2013 – The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors... Show More + today approved a US$16.5 million financing for the Second Health and Social Protection Project for the Kyrgyz Republic. The project contributes to a common effort of the Kyrgyz Government, the World Bank, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, KfW – German Development Bank, and other development partners to improve health outcomes in support of the 2012-2016 Den Sooluk National Health Reform Program, as well as enhance effectiveness and targeting performance of social assistance and services.The objective of the National Health Reform Program is to establish conditions for the protection and improvement of the population’s health irrespective of social status and gender differences. Four priority health improvement areas were identified in Den Sooluk: cardiovascular dise Show Less -

SULTAN KUDARAT, MAGUINDANAO, APRIL 29, 2013— The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), United Nations, and the World Bank signed today a new technical assistance program to support the peace process and... Show More + the establishment of the Bangsamoro in Southern Philippines.‘Bangsamoro’ refers to the new political entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), as provided for by the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB). The Philippine government and the MILF signed the framework last year to promote peace and development in southern Philippines.The new technical assistance program – the Facility for Advisory Support for Transition Capacities (FASTRAC) – will assist the MILF and the Government of the Philippines in building capacity to address key issues for the Bangsamoro such as governance, justice, combatant transition and security. Priority areas of support will be determined by the Transition Commission, MILF, and the Philippine government. FASTRAC will provid Show Less -

World Bank’s new strategy will help Benin capitalize on its advantages to foster its developmentWASHINGTON, April 9, 2013 – The strategic orientation of the World Bank Group’s interventions in the... Show More + Republic of Benin for the coming five years (2013-2017) is structured around three main pillars: (i) strengthening governance and public sector capacity; (ii) promoting a sustainable growth, competitiveness and employment; and (iii) improving access to basic social services delivery and social inclusion. This has been approved this day by the institution’s Board of Directors who met to discuss the World Bank Group’s new Country Partnership Strategy for Benin (CPS 2013-2017).The proposed IDA and other financing mapped to the key CPS pillars cover the following sectors: budget support; urban development; environment; telecommunications; youth employment; health, nutrition and population; capacity building; cross-border special economic zones; energy; and regional transport. Th Show Less -